I was going to write this week's reflection on all the casting call character descriptions I have been reading lately, in which 9/10 female roles specify the girl must be ‘sexy,’ ‘beautiful,’ ‘the girl next door,’ ‘attractive,’ or ‘thin.’ While only 1/10 male roles will comment on their physical appearance, and usually it will say, ‘burly’ or ‘muscular is a plus, but not essential.’

Then I would expound upon that idea by mentioning last week's ‘Girls’ episode that got a lot of controversy as Hannah had a weekend sexcapade with an attractive older doctor, and critics were having a hard time believing that that would ever really happen.

However, thank goodness, I had a change of heart. Last night I went and saw three funny ladies who comprise ‘The Sweater Zeppelins’ perform in their first comedy sketch show, self written and produced. These women wrote intelligent witty comedy without making the use of the word 'F@#$'. That made me extremely proud. Go ladies. When you can’t find the work you want, you create the work for yourself. Talk about empowering.

Then this morning, I spent some time looking at a birthday present a friend had made me a few years ago, and thought ‘this is just what I needed to keep my spirits up.’ My friend filled a mug which reads, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”, with phrases like: “I’m so blessed to have you in my life.” “Your laugh is infectious.” “You're beautiful.” “I’d let you bite my arm.” (bit of an inside joke). “ I know everything that you do will be GREAT!” ...and the list goes on. Immediately my mood changed as I was filled with love and acceptance from someone who knows me inside and out, because she took time to empower me and encourage me with such loving phrases.

So rather than ranting and raving about the way ‘society’ is bringing me down. I would like to comment on the power you and I all have to bring people up, by sharing some loving encouragement, or having the courage to do what we love and the persistence to make it happen.

Thanks to the many wonderful people in my life who encourage and strengthen me, may I spend my efforts doing the same for others, rather than dwelling on the things that do not.